i'd be respected if i couldn't be loved

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If I knew nothing about Heated Rivalry and this was my first introduction to Ilya Rozanov — sitting there with those besotted, puppy-eyed looks, openly adoring Shane - I would never believe this man is the confident, commanding presence the books describe.

Like… sir? Was this you just a few years ago? Giving that unmistakable soft-dom energy.

And yes, there's a lot of time and growth between the two of them But damnnnn....Love really does change a guy.

Because early Ilya is all interest and intrigue—that sharp, assessing look that says you’re hot and I want you. And later Ilya? That’s devotion. That’s I want you because I love you, written all over his face with absolutely no shame.

This version of him—soft, eyes full of affection and adoration—feels completely unguarded. No walls. No performance. Just Ilya, letting Shane have his full attention by simply existing.

And then, of course, it turns playful. The pout. The little spark of an idea. The moment he decides, he wants Shane’s attention now and zeroes in like a man on a mission.

Wildly different energies. Same man. Same devotion—to Shane

This man has eight of the same shirt and five of the same hoodie. This man memorizes hockey stats for fun. This man will have a cold ginger ale. This man will look awkwardly at the camera with a smile like he wants to incinerate himself in every wet t-shirt contest sports drink ad his mom books for him. This man will take everything you say absolutely literally. That’s French, Ilya. You just said a French word and we’re talking about Russian, are you unfamiliar with your own language. This man takes three days to recognize a social cue. And ten years to name an emotion. You’ll tell him you like him in the most roundabout way and you’ll think you NAILED it, and he’ll promptly have a panic attack on your dick. When he names that emotion finally? He’ll be absolutely relentless and will not stand down; he’s had an emotion and he knows you have one, too. By that point, there’s no escape. He’s imprinted on you and is starting to ovulate in your vicinity. He will bludgeon you with adorable nerd and insatiable ass. And his oral fixation is so mighty he’ll suck your remaining brain cells out through your dick.